Program controlled machine for printing selected text sections



1965 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,220,342

PROGRAM CONTROLLED MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED TEXT SECTIONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1964 1965 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,220,342

PROGRAM CONTROLLED MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED TEXT SECTIONS Filed May 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J!) van fors 1965 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,

PROGRAM CONTROLLED MACHINE FOR PRINTiNG SELECTED TEXT SECTIONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 2'7, 1964 3,220,342 PROGRAM CONTROL-LED MACHINE FOR PRINT- ING SELECTED TEXT SECTIONS Wilhelm Ritzerfeld, Schorlerner Allee 14, Berlin-Dahlem, and Gerhard Ritzerfeld, Franzensbatler Strasse 21, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany Filed May 27, 1964, Ser. No. 370,592 Claims priority, application Germany, June 7, 1M3, R 35,398 20 Claims. (Cl. 10191) The present invention relates to a program controlled machine for printing selected text sections of a printing form, and more particularly to a rotary duplicator provided with cover means for covering undesired text sections of a printing form, and for exposing selected desired text sections of the printing form during printing operations. Rotary printing machines of this type are known, and in accordance with the prior art constructions, the shifting of the printing form is carried out by a mechanism under the control of the person operating the machine. The operator must count how many text sections or lines were printed during the preceding printing operation, in order to determine how many steps are necessary for exposing another selected text section, and then shift the printing form a corresponding number of steps by a manual operation, or by actuation of a foot pedal. Operation of a machine of this type leads to errors, and is time consuming.

Furthermore, in a machine of this type, it is desirable to be able to select one or several lines or text sections for simultaneous printing, which requires two covers defining between each other a gap in which a desired section of the printing form is exposed. This gap has to be opened and closed by operation of the cover, which also introduces substantial errors, while the shifting of the cover causes a considerable delay in the succession of printing operations.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of known printing and duplicating machines of this type, and to provide a program controlled machine for printing text sections selected by exposing the respective portion of the printing form while the undesired text sections of the printing form are covered.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing machine in which text sections of the printing form are selected for printing by automatic shifting of cover means which cover undesired text sections of the printing form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printing machine in which the printing form is shifted so that different selected text sections are exposed in a gap formed by cover means.

Another object of the present invention is to simultaneously shift the printing form and cover means partly covering the printing form to expose different text sections, or a different number of text sections during printing operations.

Another object of the present invention is to control the shifting of cover means covering a printing form, or of the printing form itself, by operating means which respond to a program marked on the printing for-m.

Another object of the invention is to provide markings on a narrow program section of the printing form which extends across all text sections, and to sense the markings to cause shifting of cover means or of the printing form, or of both, to expose one or several text sections different from the text sections printed during the preceding operation.

Another object of the present invention is to sense the markings by sensing means producing impulses, and to store such impulses in electronic counters which then pro- United States l atent C 3,220,342 Patented Nov. 30, 1965 vide control signals for energizing electromagnetic means to cause the shifting of the cover means or of the printing form by setting devices.

With these objects in view, one embodiment of a program controlled printing machine according to the invention comprises printing means movable in one direction, for example a rotary printing roller; first and second holding means mounted on the printing means; a printing form held by the first holding means and cover means held by the second holding means and being superimposed on the printing form to expose at least one desired text section and a program section extending across the text sections of the printing form while the remaining portions of undesired text sections are covered by the cover means; sensing means for sensing markings in the program sections; and operating means controlled by the sensing means for shifting at least one, and preferably both holding means one or several steps so that the printing form and the cover means are moved relative to each other whereby at least one previously covered text section is exposed, and at least one previously exposed text section is covered.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two markings are provided in a part of the program section corresponding to a text section. Each marking includes as many marks as steps are required of the respective holding means, and if a plurality of marks form a marking, such marks are successively sensed during rotation of the printing roller and cause a corresponding number of steps of the respective holding means, for example of the second holding means by which the cover means are held and shifted relative to the printing form.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, another cover means which preferably is a printing form for the head section of a text, is disposed to cover the part of the printing form preceding the first line, and when the printing form is shifted one step, the first line or text section is shifted to a position covered by the cover means carrying the head section of the text. In this manner, different text sections or lines are exposed in the gap between the two cover means. The width of the gap is varied by shifting the movable cover means step wise away from the stationary cover means on which the head section is provided.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the marks are sensed by photoelectric means which produce impulses when sensing a mark. The impulses are supplied to electronic counters so that the number of sensed marks is stored in the counter. A counter control switch is operated by the rotating printing roller and causes counting down of the counter by which a corresponding number of impulses is supplied to electromagnetic shifting means which shift either the first holding means with the printing form, or the second holding means with the cover means a corresponding number of steps.

The markings in the program area of each text section of the printing form preferably are sensed at the end of the printing operation, and the program section of the printing form is provided at the trailing end of the printing form, and the printing form and cover means are shifted automatically before the leading end of the print produced. Shortly before the trailing program section 3 with the markings reaches the sensing means, the same are rendered operative. For example, photoelectric sensing means are connected to a voltage source by a switch closed at the proper moment when the program section approaches the photoelectric sensing means during rotation of the printing roller.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic View illustrating a printing form partly covered by superimposed cover means;

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 but illustrating the printing form in a shifted position for exposing another text section for printing during a successive revolution of the printing roller;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2 and showing the printing form and a movable cover means in shifted positions for exposing several text sections of the printing form;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 3 and showing the printing form and the movable cover means in other shifted positions for exposing another single selected text section during a successive printing operation;

FIG. 5 is partly a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a printing machine provided with the apparatus of the present invention, and partly a diagram illustrating the electric circuit of the apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front view illustrating a shifting device for shifting the cover means or the printing form in accordance with the present invention, and including parts of the electric circuit of the apparatus illustrated in a diagrammatic manner.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 4, a printing form has a plurality of text sections, each of which may correspond to a line. A cover 1 covers one end of the printing form 2, and when the same is shifted from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2, the first line of printing form 2 is no longer exposed, but covered by the stationary cover 1. Cover 1 is preferably also a printing form on which three lines of a head section may be provided. A movable cover 3 is superimposed on printing form 2 in such a position that an elongated program section 2a extending across all text sections 2b is left exposed. Cover 3 is separated from cover 1 by a gap having the width of one printing'section 2b. Markings 5 are provided in certain printing sections in the region of the program section 2a. Each printing section may have two adjacent markings 5a and 5b, respectively associated with sensing means 6 and 7, or only a single marking 5a. When a printing operation is performed in the position shown in FIG. 1, a copy sheet 4, schematically shown adjacent the printing form and the covers, is imprinted with the three lines of the printing form 1 which carries the head section, and with the first line corresponding to the first text section of the printing form 2 exposed between cover 3 and the combined cover and printing form 1.

In the position of FIG. 2 in which printing form 2 has been shifted one step in the direction of the arrow B the second text section 2b of printing form 2 is located in the gap and exposed, so that, in addition to the three lines of the head section, the second line of the printing form is imprinted on the copy sheet 4. It will be seen that by shifting of the printing form, different text sections are exposed in the gap and thus selected for printing, while undesired text sections are covered either by the movable cover 3, or by the combined cover and printing form 1. For example, in the position of FIG. 2 the previously used first text section is covered by the combined cover and printing form 1.

The sensing means 6 causes shifting of the printing form through one step corresponding to the width of one text section whenever sensing a mark in the program section 2a of the printing form. Since the marking in the first text section cooperating with the sensing means 6 in the position of FIG. 1 consists of a single mark 5a, sensing means 6 causes shifting of printing form 2 for one step to the position of FIG. 2. If marking 5a in the first text section would have included two or three marks, printing form 2 would have been shifted two or three steps so that the third or fourth text section of the print ing form would be located in the gap between covers I and 3.

As will be described hereinafter in greater detail with reference to FIG. 5, the edge 30 of cover 3 is held by a holding means it and the edge 2c of printing form 2 is held by a holding means 9 on the periphery of a printing roller 8 which turns in the direction of the arrow C. Consequently, the program section 2a trails the remainder of the printing form and covers 1 and 3 during rotation of printing roller 8. With the printing form and the covers in the position of FIG. 2, the three lines of the head section and the second text section of printing form 2 will be printed on copy sheet 4, and when the entire text has been printed, printing roller 8 will be in a position in which sensing means 6 senses the single mark 5a, and sensing means 7 senses the two marks 5b provided at the trailing end of the second text section.

The arrangement is such that sensing means 6, sensing one mark, will cause shifting of printing form 2 one step in the direction of the arrow B to the position shown in FIG. 3 so that the second text section is pushed under combined cover and head section printing form 1. Sensing means 7, sensing two marks 5b, causes shifting of cover 3 for two steps in the direction of the arrow F so that in the position of FIG. 3, three text sections are exposed in the gap between the stationary cover 1 and the movable cover 3. Since the first two text sections are now located under cover 1, the third, fourth and fifth lines of the printing form 2 will be printed underneath the three head lines printed, as before, by the combined cover and printing form 1.

The printing roller performs one revolution in this position, so that the three lines are printed, whereupon printing means 6 senses three marks 5a, causing the printing form 2 to move three steps in the direction of the arrow B so that the first five text sections are covered by cover 1. Cover 3 is automatically shifted in the direction of the arrow B to its initial position defining a gap of a width corresponding to a single text section. As will be explained hereinafter, means are provided for returning cover 3 at the end of a revolution as many steps in the direction of the arrow B as cover 3 was displaced in the direction of the arrow F under the control of sensing means 7 sensing marks 51). If it would have been desired to provide in the position following the position of FIG. 3, a gap having the width of two text sections, then a single mark 5b would have been provided in the third text section, causing cover 3 to move in the direction of the arrow F one step so that the covers 1 and 3 would have defined a gap having the width of two text sections, and lines 6 and 7 would have been exposed. However, since no mark 512 was sensed in the third text section by sensing means 7, the position of FIG. 4 is assumed. Only single marks 5a are provided for the sixth, seventh and eighth text section, so that only printing form 2 will be shifted one step after each revolution of the printing roller, and the seventh, eighth and ninth lines will be singly printed adjacent the text section printed by the printing form 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, printing roller 8 supports two holding means 9 and 10 for movement in axial direction. Clamps on holding means 9 and 10 hold the leading edges of the copy sheet 2 and the printing form 3 on the periphery of the printing roller. The combined cover and printing form 1 is not visible in FIG. 5, since it is located behind cover 3 superimposed on printing form 2 and defining with the same a circumferential gap as explained with reference to FIG. 1. The program section 2:: with the marking 5 is shown in FIG. 5 to project from the trailing end of cover 3. When holding means 9 and 10 are shifted in axial direction of the printing roller, the relative position of cover 3 and printing form 2 will be varied as explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

First and second shifting means are provided for stepwise shifting holding means 9 and 10 and respectively include first electromagnetic means 23 and second electromagnetic means 24. Each electromagnetic means operates a stepping device for stepwise shifting the respective holding means 9 and 10. For the sake of simplicity, only the stepping device for operating holding means 10 is shown in FIG. 1, and also in FIG. 6, and it will be understood that the shifting means by which the holding means 9 is stepwise shifted corresponds exactly to the shifting means of holding means 10.

The stepping device includes a ratchet bar secured to, or being part of holding means 10, an arresting bar 34 attached to ratchet bar 3, an arresting member 32 urged by a spring 33 to engage corresponding recesses in arresting bar 34 to lock the same together with holding means 10 during printing operations, a shifting member 26 connected to the armature of electromagnetic means 24, and a ratchet pawl 27 cooperating with the ratchet teeth 29 of ratchet bar 30. As shown in FIG. 6, a spring 25 normally holds the armature of electromagnetic means 24 in a position in Which ratchet pawl 27 is held by a fixed stop 28 in a disengaged position. When electromagnetic means 24 is energized, shifting member 26 is moved in the direction of the arrow F to a position in which stop 28 permits an engagement of pawl 27 with ratchet teeth 29 so that ratchet bar 30 is shifted one step. However, such shifting is only possible if arresting means 32 is first retracted from arresting bar 34 which is accomplished by a slanted guide face 31 cooperating with a pin 32a on arresting means 32. Arresting means 32 has two longitudinal slots receiving guide pins 32b, so that the action of guide face 31 during movement of shifting member 26 in the direction of the arrow F will retract the point of arresting means 32 from the recess of arresting bar 34 before pawl 27 engages a ratchet tooth 29 of ratchet bar 30. When electromagnetic means 34 is deenergized, spring 25 returns shifting member 26 in the direction of the arrow B so that pin 28 causes pawl 27 to release the ratchet bar, while the slanted guide face 31 permits the movement of arresting means 32 into a following recess in arresting bar 34 under the action of spring 33.

As explained above shifting movement in the direction of the arrow F will cause displacement of cover 3 in the direction of the arrow F in FIG. 3. In order to return cover means 3 in the direction of the arrow B, a symmetrical stepping device is provided which includes an electromagnetic means 42, a shifting member 26' with a pawl 27' and guide face 31, and oppositely directed ratchet teeth 29' on ratchet bar 30. The armature of electromagnetic means 42 is connected to spring 25 which pulls the armatures toward each other. It is evident that energizing of electromagnetic means 42 will cause displacement of shifting member 26 in the direction of the arrow B so that pawl 27 will engage a ratchet tooth 29' after arresting means 32 has been withdrawn by guide face 31 so that ratchet bar 30, and thereby holding means 10 with cover 3 is shifted one step in the direction of the arrow B whereupon arresting means 32 again locks arresting bar 34 with holding means 10.

Electromagnetic means 24 will shift ratchet bar 30 one step for each energizing impulse so that if two or three impulses are received by electromagnetic means 24, holding means 10 will be shifted two or three steps together with cover 3. The same number of impulses is auto- 6 matically supplied to electromagnetic means 42 after one revolution of printing roller 8, as will be explained hereinafter, so that the stepping device 27, 29 will automatically return holding means 10 to its initial position defining a gap corresponding to the width of a single text section of printing form 2, as explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

A latch 36 is mounted on a pin 43 on arresting bar 34 and prevented by a stop 36a from turning in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. During movement of arresting bar 34 with ratchet bar 30 in the direction of the arrow F, latch 36 will successively engage rollers of a pair of switches 37 and 38 and successively close the switches. Latch 36 will then be located on the left side of the rollers of switches 38 and 37, as viewed in FIG. 6, and when the stepping device 26, 27', 29 re turns ratchet bar 30 with arresting bar 34 and holding means 10 to the initial position, switches 38 and 37 are not closed, since latch 36 freely turns in clockwise direction when engaging the rollers of switches 38 and 37. Switches 37, 38 are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6, and are disposed in the printing roller 8 as best seen in FIG. 5.

The stepping device by which holding means 9 of printing form 2 is stepwise shifted corresponds exactly to the left half of FIG. 6, electromagnetic means 23 replacing electromagnetic means 24. The spring corresponding to spring 25 is secured to a fixed point, and the elements 42, 26', 27 and 29' are not provided since printing form 2 is only moved in the direction of the arrow B to expose successive text sections in the gap between covers 1 and 3. The arresting bar and locking bar controlled by electromagnetic means 23 are secured to holding means 9 in the same manner as ratchet bar 30 and arresting bar 34 are secured to holding means 10, but not shown in FIG. 5 for the sake of simplicity.

Printing roller 8 cooperates with a counter-pressure roller 50 in a printing plane DE. Copy sheets 4 are supplied by a pair of transporting rollers 12, 13 to the printing line between rollers 8 and 50 when holding means 9 and 10 have passed the printing plane printing forms 2, partly covered by cover 3 and combined cover and head section printing form 1, pass through the printing plane. The portion of the printing form 2 located in the gap between covers 1 and 3 will be imprinted on copy sheet 4 with the respective exposed text section oriented in circumferential direction of printing roller 8. The printed copy sheet will be engaged by a curved guide 14 and deposited on a lower table, not shown. If printing form 2 is a duplicating master sheet, suitable moistening means, not shown, are provided for moistening copy sheets 4 before the engagement with the printing form.

The above described shifting devices for holding means 9 and 10, and more particularly electromagnetic means 23 and 24 are respectively controlled by impulses produced by sensing means 6 and 7 which are located adjacent each other in axial direction in the proximity of the peripheral surface of printing roller 8. Each sensing means includes a source of light directing a beam toward printing roller 8, and a photocell responding to the amount of reflected light. Photoelectric sensing means 6 and 7 respectively sense axially adjacent markings 5a and 5b provided in the program section 2a at the trailing end of the printing form 2, as explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. When a mark in the program sectioh passes the light beam of the respective sensing means, an impulse is created. If two or three marks are provided in a circumferential row three impulses will be produced.

Sensing means 6 and 7 are connected to a pair of switches 45 which are normally open to prevent response of sensing means 6 and 7 to the characters appearing in the exposed text section of the printing form, but when the program section 2a is located opposite sensing means 6 and 7, a control lug 44 on printing roller 8 closes switches 45 so that impulses produced by sensing means 6 and 7 are supplied through amplifiers 15 and 7 to counters 16 and 18 which operate on the binary system. For example, if a single impulse is produced by sensing means 6 sensing a single mark a, counter 16 will be set to the position L00. If two impulses are produced by sensing means 7 sensing two marks 5b, counter 18 will be set to the position LL.

Counter 16 is connected through an amplifier 21 and a slide contact 21a to a slide ring 21b connected to the coil of electromagnetic means 23 and rotating with printing roller 8. Counter 18 is connected through an amplifier 22 to a slide contact 22a engaging a slide ring 22b connected with the coil of electromagnetic means 24.

Counters 16 and 18 are connected to each other and to a counter control switch 20 which has a roller operated successively by the three projections of a second control lug 19 to close switch 20. Every time switch 20 is closed, both counters 16 and 18 are counted down one unit.

Switches 37 and 38, described particularly with reference to FIG. 6 and being operated when holding means with cover 3 is displaced in the direction of the arrow F to increase the axial width of the exposed area of the printing form, are connected to amplifier 40 over a slide ring and slide contact, not shown. The impulses produced by the closing of switches 37 and 38 are supplied to a counter 39 which is connected by an amplifier 41 to a slide contact 41a engaging a slide ring 411) which is connected with electromagnetic means 42, described with reference to FIG. 6, and located in FIG. 5 behind electromagnetic means 24.

A counter control switch 47 is closed successively by the two projections of a third counter control lug 46 secured to printing roller 8 in a position leading the second control lug 19 in the direction of rotation of printing roller 8.

When ratchet bar 30, arresting bar 34, and holding means 1%) are shifted one step, only switch 37 is closed, and one unit is registered in counter 34. If holding means 10 is shifted two steps, counter 39 will register LL. When the two projections of control lug 46 engage counter control switch 47 and close the same, counter 39 will be counted down to the position 00.

Operation Assuming that printing form 2, cover 3, and combined cover and head section printing form 1 are in the position shown in FIG. 2 with the second text line exposed, rotation of printing roller 8 will bring the printing form to the printing plane DE with the edge 2c leading, so that the second text section of the printing form will be printed on copy sheet 4 supplied by transporting rollers 12 and 13, and during this printing operation, counters 16, 18 and 39 are all cleared. Switches 45 are open so that impulses produced by sensing means 6 and 7 reading the mirror script on printing form 2 will not be supplied to counters 16 and 18. When the program section approaches the sensing means, control lug 44, which leads program section 2a a certain angular distance, engages switch 45 which is spaced the same angular distance from sensing means 6 and 7, so that the impulses produced by the sensing means when reading the markings 5a and 5b, respectively, will be supplied to counters 16 and 13.

Sensing means 6 senses one mark 5a, as shown in FIG. 2, and produces a single impulse so that counter 16 is set to LOO. Sensing means 7 senses two marks 5b so that counter 18 is set to LL.

No portion of the printing form is now located in the printing plane D-E, and this interval is used for preparing the next following printing operation which takes place during the following revolution of the printing roller. Control lug 19 engages switch 29 with its leading projection, and closes switch 20. Counter 16 is counted down one unit, and since only one unit was stored in counter 16, the counter is cleared. Counter 18 is counted down one unit by the same impulse produced by switch 20 when closed by the first projection of control lug 19 and has now the position L0.

The counting down of counters 16 and 18 produces single impulses which are amplified by amplifiers 21 and 22 and respectively supplied to electromagnetic means 23 and 24.

Electromagnetic means 24, controlled by counter 18, effects shifting of shifting member 26 with pawl 27 so that ratchet bar 30 is shifted one step and then arrested again by arresting means 32. Holding means 10 is shifted one step in the direction of the arrow P so that the gap shown in FIG. 2 is increased to two text sections 2. At the same time, the counted down counter 16 supplies through amplifier 21 an impulse to electromagnetic means 23 which causes shifting of holding means 9 with printing form 2 one step in the direction of the arrow B so that copy sheet 2 is shifted from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3, and the second text line, which contains the controlling markings 5a and 5b, is covered by the combined cover and head section printing form 1.

However, the information contained in the two marks 5b of the second text section is already stored in counter 18. When the second projection of control lug 19 engages the roller of switch 20 and closes switch 29, counter 16, which is already in the position 000, cannot be counted down further, so that no impulse is transmitted to electromagnetic means 23, and holding means 9 of the printing form is not again shifted. The impulse produced by switch 20 when closed by the second projection of cam lug 19 counts down counter 18 from the position L0 to the position 00 so that another impulse is supplied through amplifier 22 to electromagnetic means 24 which actuates shifting member 26 so that arresting means 32 is raised and releases arresting bar 34, while pawl 27 shifts ratchet bar 30 with holding means 10 a second step in the direction of the arrow F so that the gap between covers 3 and 1 is increased to an axial distance corresponding to three text sections, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the third, fourth and fifth line of printing form 2 are exposed. The actuation of counter control switch 20 by the third trailing projection of control lug 19 has no effect since both counters are cleared.

Arresting bar 34 of the device illustrated in FIG. 6 and controlled by electromagnetic means 24 to shift the holding means 10 of the movable cover 3, has moved two steps and has closed switch 37 during the first step through latch 36, and switch 38 during the second step. The closing of the two switches 37 and 38 causes counter 39 to register two units so that counter 39 is in the position LL.

Printing roller 8 continues its revolution so that an imprint is made by the exposed portion of printing form 2 on a copy sheet 4 in the printing plane D-E. Since the covers and the printing form 2 are in the position of FIG. 3, cover 1 will print on the copy sheet the three lines of the head section, and printing form 2 will print adjacent thereto the third, fourth and fifth lines of the text. During this printing operation, sensing means 6 and 7 are disconnected by the open switches 45. When the copy sheet is printed, it passes beyond the printing plane, and is guided by guide member 14 back toward the operator and deposited on the table. The printing roller again arrives in the position shown in FIG. 5, but this time counter 16 is in the position 000, counter 18 is in the position 00, and counter 39 is in the position LL. When the leading projection of control lug 46 engages the roller of switch 47, counter 39 is counted back one unit to the position L0, and when the trailing projection of control lug 46 closes switch 47, counter 39 is counted down to the position 00. In this manner, two impulses are produced which are amplified by amplifier 41 and supplied to electromagnetic means 42 over slide contact 41a and slide ring 41b. Electromagnetic means 42 twice actuates shifting member 26 so that ratchet bar 29 is shifted two steps in the direction of the arrow B whereby holding means It) and cover 3 are moved two steps in the direction of the arrow B so that covers 1 and 2 define a gap having a width corresponding to a single text section of printing form 2, which is the initial and basic position of the apparatus. During such movement of arresting bar 34, latch 36 is ineffective to close switches 37 and 38, since it is freely turnable in clockwise direction.

It will be seen that counter 39 stores the information that cover 3 has been displaced two steps, and causes return of cover 3 through the same distance after the respective printing operation. The direction of movement of printing form 2 and of holding means 9 is never reversed, so that no counter corresponding to counter 39, and no return electromagnetic means 42 need be provided for operating holding means 9 with printing form 2.

During the above described printing operation in the position of FIG. 3, sensing means 7 is not energized since no marking is provided in the third text section of printing form 2. Consequently, cover 3 remains in its normal position to which it was returned by electromagnetic means 42, and spaced the width of one text section from cover 1. However, sensing means 6 senses three marks in the marking 5a, and consequently three impulses are produced by sensing means 6 so that counter 16 is set to the position LLL. When the three projections of lug 19 successively close counter control switch 20, counter 16 is counted down to the position 000, and electromagnetic means 23 receives three impulses causing shifting of holding means 9 through three steps and displacement of printing form 2 to the position shown in FIG. 4 so that the previously printed third, fourth and fifth text sections are covered by cover 1, and the sixth text section of printing form 2 is exposed in the gap between cover 3 and combined cover and head section printing form 1. During the following revolution of the printing roller, the head section and the sixth line of the text are printed, as shown in FIG. 4.

In the above described embodiment of the invention, the number of marks in each marking 5a or 5b determine the number of steps of the shifting devices and holding means. It is, however, possible to indicate the number of steps by the position or intensity of the marks.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of program controlled printing machine differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inan apparatus for automatically covering undesired text sections of a printing form and automatically exposing desired sections of a printing form in accordance with a program marked on the printing form, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully re veal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Program controlled machine for printing selected text sections, comprising, in combination, printing means movable in one direction; first and second holding means mounted on said printing means, at least one of said holding means being movable in a direction transverse to said direction; a printing form having text sections extending in said one direction and held by said first holding means; cover means held by said second holding means and being superimposed on said printing form to cover undesired text sections, and to expose at least one desired text section and a program section extending across said text sections, said program section having at least one marking in at least one selected text section; sensing means for sensing said marking during movement of said printing means in said one direction; and operating means controlled by said sensing means when the same sense said marking for shifting said one of said holding means in said transverse direction so that at least one text section is covered or exposed.

2. Program controlled machine for printing selected text sections, comprising, in combination, printing means movable in one direction; first and second holding means mounted on said printing means, each of said holding means being movable independently of the other holding means in a direction transverse to said direction; a printing form having text sections extending in said one direction and held by said first holding means; cover means held by said second holding means and being superimposed on said printing form to cover undesired text sections, and to expose at least one desired text section and a program section extending across said text sections, said program section having two markings in at least one selected text section; two sensing means for sensing said two markings, respectively during movement of said printing means in said one direction; and operating means including two shifting means respectively controlled by said sensing means when the same sense said markings and respectively connected to said first and second holding means for moving the same in said transverse direction so that at least one text section is covered or exposed.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said markings is different from the other markings, wherein said sensing means sensing said different marking controls the correlated shifting means to move the correlated holding means a different distance than when the other sensing senses said one marking.

4. Program controlled machine for printing selected text sections, comprising, in combination, printing means movable in one direction; first and second holding means mounted on said printing means, each of said holding means being movable independently of the other holding means in a direction transverse to said direction; a printing form having text sections extending in said one direction and held by said first holding means; cover means held by said second holding means and being superimposed on said printing form to cover undesired text sections, and to expose at least one desired text section and a program section extending across said text sections, said program section having two markings in at least one selected text section, at least one of said two markings including a plurality of marks and the other including at least one mark; first and second sensing means for sensing said two markings, respectively, during movement of said printing means in said direction and producing a control impulse for each sensed mark; and operating means including first and second shifting means respectively controlled by said first and second sensing means when the same produce an impulse upon sensing a mark, said first and second shifting means being respectively connected to said first and second holding means for moving the same stepwise for distances corresponding to the axial width of a text section and shifting said first and second holding means one step for each impulse received from said first and second sensing means in accordance with the number of sensed marks so that at least one previously exposed text section is covered and at least one previously covered text section is exposed.

5. Program controlled machine for printing selected text sections, comprising, in combination, printing means movable in one direction; first and second holding means mounted on said printing means, each of said holding means being movable independently of the other holding means in a direction transverse to said direction; a printing form having text sections extending in said one direction and held by said first holding means; cover means held by said second holding means and being superimposed on said printing form to cover undesired text sections, and to expose at least one desired text section and a program section extending across said text sections, said program section having two markings, at least one of said two markings including a plurality of marks and the other including at least one mark in at least one selected text section; first and second sensing means including first and second photoelectric means for sensing said two markings, respectively, during movement of said printing means in said direction and producing a control impulse for each sensed mark; and operating means including first and sec ond shifting means respectively controlled by said photoelectric means of said first and second sensing means when the same produce an impulse upon sensing a mark, said first and second shifting means including first and second electromagnetic means and first and second stepping devices respectively operated by said electromagnetic means and respectively connected to said first and second holding means for moving the same stepwise for distances corresponding to the axial width of a text section, and shifting said first and second holding means one step for each impulse received from said first and second sensing means in accordance with the number of sensed marks so that at least one previously exposed text section is covered and at least one previously covered text section is exposed.

6. Program controlled machine for printing selected text sections, comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; first and second holding means mounted on said printing roller, at least one of said holding means being,

movable in axial direction of said printing roller; a printing form having text sections extending in circumferential direction and held by said first holding means; cover means held by said second holding means and being superimposed on said printing form to cover undesired text sections, and to expose at least one desired text section and a narrow program section extending in axial direction at the trailing end of said printing form across said text sections, said program section having at least one marking in each of a number of selected text sections; sensing means for sensing said markings during rotation of said printing roller; and operating means controlled by said sensing means when the same senses a marking to shift said one holding means in said axial direction so that at least one text section is covered and at least one text section is exposed.

7. Program controlled printing machine for printing selected text sections, comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; first and second holding means mounted on said printing roller, each of said holding means being movable in axial direction of said printing roller; a printing form held by said first holding means and having text sections extending in circumferential direction; cover means held by said second holding means and being superimposed on said printing formto expose at least one desired text section and a narrow program section extending in axial direction across said text sections at the end of said printing form trailing in the direction of rotation of said printing roller, and adapted to cover the remainder of undesired text sections, said program section having first and second axially spaced markings, in each of a number of selected text sections, each marking including one mark, or a plurality of marks arranged in a circumferential row; first and second sensing means for sensing said two markings of one text section, each sensing means sensing during rotation of said printing roller successively the marks of the respective marking and producing an impulse for each sensed mark; and operating means including first and second shifting means respectively connected to and controlled by said first and second sensing means and respectively connected to said first and second holding means to move the same one step corresponding to the axial width of a text section when receiving one impulse from said first and second sensing means, respectively, so that by operation of said first shifting means said printing form is stepwise shifted to expose desired text sections previously covered by said cover means, and so that by operation of said second shifting means said cover means is shifted to expose previously covered text sections.

8. Program controlled printing machine for printing selected text sections, comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; first and second holding means mounted on said printing roller, each of said holding means being movable in axial direction of said printing roller; a printing form held by said first holding means and having text sections extending in circumferential direction; a first cover means on said rotary printing roller disposed to cover one axial end of said printing form; second cover means held by said second holding means and being superimposed on the other axial end of said printing form to expose a narrow program section extending in axial direction across said text sections at the end of said printing form trailing in the direction of rotation of said printing roller, and adapted to cover the remainder of undesired text sections, said first and second cover means being spaced from each other to expose at least one desired text section, said program section having first and second axially spaced markings in each of a number of selected text sections, each marking including one mark, or a plurality of marks arranged in a circumferential row; first and second sensing means for sensing said two markings of one text section, each sensing means sensing during rotation of said printing roller successively the marks of the respective marking and producing an impulse for each sensed mark; and operating means including first and second shifting means respectively connected to and controlled by said first and second sensing means and respectively connected to said first and second holding means to move the same one step corresponding to the axial Width of a text section when receiving one impulse from said first and second sensing means, respectively, so that by operation of said first shifting means said printing form is stepwise shifted to expose desired text sections previously covered by said second cover means While previously exposed text sections are covered by said first cover means, and so that by operation of said second shifting means said second cover means is shifted to expose previously covered text sections.

9. A program controlled printing machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first cover means is another printing form having a head section to be printed during each revolution of said printing roller.

10. Program controlled printing machine for printing selected text sections, comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; first and second holding means mounted on said printing roller, each of said holding means being movable in axial direction of said printing roller; a printing form held by said first holding means and having text sections extending in circumferential direction; cover means held by said second holding means and being superimposed on said printing form to expose at least one desired text section and a narrow program section extending in axial direction across said text sections at the end of said printing form trailing in the direction of rotation of said printing roller, and adapted to cover the remainder of undesired text sections, said program section having first and second axially spaced markings in each of a number of selected text sections, each marking including one mark, or a plurality of marks arranged in a circumferential row; first and second sensing means for sensing said two markings of one text section, each sensing means sensing during rotation of said printing roller successively the marks of the respective marking and producing an impulse for each sensed mark; and operating means including first and second shifting means comprising first and second electromagnetic means and first and second stepping devices, said first and second electromagnetic means being respectively connected to said first and second sensing means and actuated in accordance with impulses produced by the same, and said first and second stepping devices being respectively connected to said first and second holding means to move the same one step corresponding to the axial width of a text section when the respective electromagnetic means receives one impulse from the respective sensing means so that by operation of said first shifting means said printing form is stepwise shifted to expose desired text sections previously covered by said cover means, and so that by operation of said second shifting means said cover means is shifted to expose previously covered text sections.

11. Program controlled printing machine for printing selected text sections, comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; first and second holding means mounted on said printing roller, each of said holding means being movable in axial direction of said printing roller; a printing form held by said first holding means and having text sections extending in circumferential direction; a first cover means on said rotary printing roller disposed to cover one axial end of said printing form; second cover means held by said second holding means and being superimposed on the other axial end of said printing form to expose a narrow program section extending in axial direction across said text sections at the end of said printing form trailing in the direction of rotation of said printing roller, and adapted to cover the remainder of undesired text sections, said first and second cover means being spaced from each other to expose at least one desired text section, said program section having first and second axially spaced markings in each of a number of selected text sections, each marking including one mark, or a plurality of marks arranged in a circumferential row; first and second photoelectric sensing means for sensing said two markings of one text section, each photoelectric sensing means sensing during rotation of said printing roller successively the marks of the respective marking and producing an impulse for each sensed mark; and operating means including first and second shifting means comprising first and second electromagnetic means and first and second stepping devices, said first and second electromagnetic means being respectively connected to said first and second photoelectric sensing means and actuated in accordance with impulses produced by the same, and said first and second stepping devices being respectively connected to said first and second holding means to move the same one step corresponding to the axial width of a text section when the respective electromagnetic means receives one impulse from the respective photoelectric sensing means so that by operation of said first shifting means said printing form is stepwise shifted to expose desired text sections previously covered by said second cover means while previously exposed text sections are covered by said first cover means, and so that by operation of said second shifting means said second cover means is shifted to exposed previously covered text sections.

12. A program controlled printing machine as set forth in claim wherein each stepping device includes a ratchet element, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet element and operated by said electromagnetic means, and an arresting element operated by said electromagnetic means to release said ratchet element when said electromagnetic means receives an impulse and shifts said ratchet element, and to arrest said ratachet element after each step.

13. Program controlled printing machine for printing selected text sections, comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; first and second holding means mounted on said printing roller, each of said holding means being movable in axial direction of said printing roller; a printing form held by said first holding means and having text sections extending in circumferential direction; cover means held by said second holding means and being superimposed on said printing form to expose at least one desired text section and a narrow program section extending in axial direction across said text sections at the end of said printing form trailing in the direction of rotation of said printing roller, and adapted to cover the remainder of undesired text sections, said program section having first and second axially spaced markings in each of a number of selected text sections, each marking including one mark, or a plurality of marks arranged in a circumferential row; first and second sensing means for sensing said two markings of one text section, each sensing means sensing during rotation of said printing roller successively the marks of the respective marking and producing an impulse for each sensed mark; and operating means including first and second shifting means comprising first and second electromagnetic means and first and second stepping devices, first and second counter means respectively electrically connected with said first and second sensing means so as to register the number of impulses and sensed marks, said first and second counter means being respectively electrically connected with said first and second electromagnetic means, a counter control switch operated by said printing roller to count down said first and second counter means so that the same produce impulses supplied to said first and second electromagnetic means for actuating the same to operate said first and second stepping devices and said first and second stepping devices being respectively connected to said first and second holding means to move the same one step corresponding to the axial width of a text section when the respective electromagnetic means receives one impulse from the respective sensing means so that by operation of said first shifting means said printing form is stepwise shifted to expose desired text sections previously covered by said cover means, and so that by operation of said second shifting means said cover means is shifted to expose previously covered text sections.

14. A program controlled printing machine as set forth in claim 13 and including a third counter means, switch means connected to said third counter means and oper-- ated by said second stepping device to register in said third counter means the number of steps performed bysaid second stepping device corresponding to the number of received impulses; another counter control switch connected with said third counter means and operated by said printing roller to count down said third counter means, a third electromagnetic means controlled by said third counter means and a third stepping device connected to said second holding means and operated by said third electromagnetic means to return said second holding means to its previous position.

15. A printing machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said stepping devices includes a ratchet bar secured to the respective holding means, a shifting member having a pawl cooperating with said ratchet bar and a guide face, said shifting member being connected to the armature of the respective electromagnetic means, an arresting bar secured to the respective holding means, a spring-loaded arresting means cooperating with said arresting bar and having a pin engaging said guide face so as to release said arresting bar during shifting by said pawl, and to lock said arresting bar and thereby the respective holding means when said electromagnetic means is deenergized.

16. Program controlled printing machine for printing selected text sections, comprising, in combination, a rotary printing roller; first and second holding means mounted on said printing roller, each of said holding means being movable in axial direction of said printing roller; a printing form held by said first holding means and having text sections extending in circumferential direction; a first cover means on said rotary printing roller disposed to cover one axial end of said printing form; second cover means held by said second holding means and being superimposed on the other axial end of said printing form to expose a narrow program section extending in axial direction across said text sections at the end of said printing form trailing in the direction of rotation of said printing roller, and adapted to cover the remainder of undesired text sections, said first and second cover means being spaced from each other to expose at least one desired text section, said program section having first and second axially spaced markings in each of a number of selected text sections, each marking including one mark, or a plurality of marks arranged in a circumferential row; first and second photoelectric sensing means for sensing said two markings of one text section, each photoelectric sensing means sensing during rotation of said printing roller successively the marks of the respective marking and producing an impulse for each sensed mark; and operating means including first and second shifting means comprising first and second electromagnetic means and first and second stepping devices, first and second counter means respectively electrically connected with said first and second sensing means so as to register the number of impulses and sensed marks, said first and second counter means being respectively electrically connected with said first and second electromagnetic means, a counter control switch operated by said printing roller to count down said first and second counter means so that the same produce impulses supplied to said first and second electromagnetic means for actuating the same to operate said first and second stepping devices and said first and second stepping devices being respectively connected to said first and second holding means to move the same one step corresponding to the axial width of a text section when the respective electromagnetic means receives one impulse from the respective photoelectric sensing means so that by operation of said first shifting means said printing form is stepwise shifted to expose desired text sections previously covered by said second cover means while previously exposed text sections are covered by said first cover means, and so that by the operation of said second shifting means said second cover means is shifted to expose previously covered text sections.

17. A printing machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein said printing roller carries a control lug having a plurality of projections for successively actuating said counter control switch, said counter means being counted down one unit for each actuation from the number stored therein in accordance with impulses received from said sensing means and supplying corresponding impulses to said electromagnetic means to actuate said stepping devices.

18. A printing machine as set forth in claim 17 and including a third counter means; wherein said second stepping device includes a stepwise movable member secured to said second holding means, and a latch mounted on including a plurality of switches operated by said latch said movable member displaceable in one direction; and successively during successive steps of said movable member, said switches being connected to said third counter means for registering in the same the number of steps of said movable member; another control lug on said printing roller having a plurality of projections; another counter control switch operated by said other control lug to supply successive impulses to said third counter means whereby the same is counted down and produces successive impulses; and a third electromagnetic means and third stepping device controlled by said third electromagnetic means for returning said movable member in a direction opposite to the direction of movement produced by said second electromagnetic means and second stepping device under the control of said second counter means, said third electromagnetic means effecting one step of said third stepping device for each impulse received from said third counter means for returning said second holding means to its initial position.

19. A printing machine as set forth in claim 18 and including first and second switches connected in series with said photoelectric first and second sensing means, respectively, and being normally open, said switches being respectively connected with said first and second counter means; and a control lug secured to said printing roller and engaging and closing said switches when said printing roller is in such a position that said program section of said printing form passes said first and second sensing means so that impulses are produced by said first and second sensing means only when sensing markings provided in said program section.

20. A printing machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein said first cover means is a printing form carrying a head section so that a copy sheet supplied to said printing roller receives an imprint of said head section and an imprint of at least one selected exposed text section in adjacent positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,695,559 11/1954 Levin l0l132.5 2,880,670 4/1959 Brougham et al. l0l132.5 3,077,829 2/1963 Ritzerfeld et a1. 10l91 ROBERT E, PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 

1. PROGRAM CONTROLLED MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED TEXT SECTIONS, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, PRINTING MEANS MOVABLE IN ONE DIRECTION; FIRST AND SECOND HOLDING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID PRINTING MEANS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID HOLDING MEANS BEING MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID DIRECTION; A PRINTING FORM HAVING TEXT SECTIONS EXTENDING IN SAID ONE DIRECTION AND HELD BY SAID FIRST HOLDING MEANS; COVER MEANS HELD BY SAID SECOND HOLDING MEANS AND BEING SUPERIMPOSED ON SAID PRINTING FORM TO COVER UNDESIRED TEXT SECTIONS, AND TO EXPOSE AT LEAST ONE DESIRED TEXT SECTION AND A PROGRAM SECTION EXTENDING ACROSS SAID TEXT SECTIONS, SAID PROGRAM SECTION HAVING AT LEAST ONE MARKING IN AT LEAST ONE SELECTED TEXT SECTION; SENSING MEANS FOR SENSING SAID MARKING DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID PRINTING MEANS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION; AND OPERATING MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID SENSING MEANS WHEN THE SAME SENSE SAID MARKING FOR SHIFTING SAID ONE OF SAID HOLDING MEANS IN SAID TRANSVERSE DIRECTION SO THAT AT LEAST ONE TEXT SECTION IS COVERED OR EXPOSED. 